'Really proud' - Annual March on Cancer continues to raise thousands for charity

More than 100 people braved chilly temperatures on Sunday, March 16, as they walked along the North East coast in an effort to raise money for Cancer Research UK via Beating Cancer Together North East.

The event was organised by Ann Walsh, the lady behind the annual Jarrow Relay for Life, and saw those taking part walk from Roker Pier, in Sunderland, to South Shields Pier.

South Shields fundraising legend Colin Burgin-Plews (Big Pink Dress) and Sunderland soldier David Ansell, who is walking ten miles a day for 1,000 days, were among those who took part.

Ann has told the Shields Gazette that despite the cold weather, the atmosphere was very positive among the walkers - with some already looking ahead to 2026.

She said: “Around 150 people had initially signed up for the walk but that was before Newcastle got to the cup final so a few had dropped out.

“But there was still over 100 people who took part and the atmosphere was really good throughout the day - apart from the cold.

“Obviously it is a really exposed route, especially by The Leas, but it didn’t put people off, everyone was positive and there has been talk about next year already so we must be doing something right.

“We could do it during the summer but it is a ‘March on Cancer’ so that is why we do it in March - it wouldn’t have the same ring to it if we did it in June or July.

“At the end of the day, we can go home to get warm after a few hours in the cold, whereas people who are going through cancer treatment don’t have a quick fix when they are feeling unwell.”

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Although the total amount raised hasn’t been confirmed yet, Ann has revealed that at the time of writing, it stands at over £2,000.

Ann added: “We have teams that do the walk every year and one of them is called ‘Taking Positive Strides’. One of their members, Paula Fowler, sadly died last year but they kept their team on and it was nice to see them walking together in honour of her.

“They’ve raised more than £10,000 alone since October last year which is amazing.

“Since the launch of Beating Cancer Together North East, we’ve raised around £57,000 in total and I’m really proud that we’ve been able to do that, especially as times are still hard and there is a lot of other charities out there.

“I’m really pleased with how the day went and we’re now looking forward to next year.”

You can view the March on Cancer fundraiser at: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/pier-to-pier-march-on-cancer and keep up to date with Beating Cancer Together North East via: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/beating-cancer-together-north-east.

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